Hairston to I-R; Bills sign OT Scott

Already ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Rams and considered unlikely for the Bills Week 15 game against the Seahawks, it was hoped that Chris Hairston would have a chance to play in Buffalo’s final two regular season games. That hope was dashed on Thursday as the team placed Hairston on season-ending injured reserve with an ankle injury.

On Monday head coach Chan Gailey described Hairston’s condition as a deep bruise in his right foot. On Wednesday he said Hairston was still undergoing tests and on the injury report the offensive tackle’s ailment was listed as an ankle injury.

Gailey’s comments Wednesday carried a sense of foreboding.

“We’ll have to see where this thing leads with him,” Gailey said of Hairston's injury. “They’re still doing tests. They did tests again (Tuesday). It’s not looking good for now.”

Hairston was seen Wednesday after practice hobbling in an immobilizer boot that ran right up to his knee. The second-year tackle is the second player in as many days moved to injured reserve after veteran DE Chris Kelsay was placed on that list Wednesday with a torn ligament in his neck.

Buffalo’s offensive line has now lost two of their top three offensive tackles, having lost starting right tackle Erik Pears to injured reserve Nov. 6.

The move makes Sam Young the full-time starting right tackle moving forward. The third-year tackle makes his first career start Sunday against the Rams, after appearing in three games at right guard this season.

“Coach ‘D’ (Joe D’Alessandris) really put me in a good position helping me get up to speed at guard,” Young said. “(Offensive tackle) is a more natural position for me so there is a bit of a comfort factor there.”

He appeared in a pair of games for the Steelers in 2011, after spending most of that season on the club’s practice squad. Scott was still with Pittsburgh this past preseason, but was waived and was subsequently signed to the Green Bay practice squad.

The Packers released Scott on Oct. 23 and he has since spent time on the Tampa Bay and Tennessee practice squads.